The Pirate

The Pirate

By Hippie Beachbum

October 2021: Key West, Florida

Yo-ho-ho and I lost count of how many bottles of rum! This dark, dingy bar, appropriately named the Rum Bar, has been my home for a while now. The owner and bartenders have taken a liking to me and we have become good friends. I'm surprised I haven't misbehaved, yet. I am, usually, kicked out of bars after a couple of long drinking days. I'm drinking away bad memories as usual.

I have been lost in memories of my past since before I turned forty, which was four years ago. Some call it a mid-life crisis, others call it a mental breakdown. Whatever it is has consumed for four years now. It has cost me every good thing in my life. The bottom line it that is sucks big time. I began drinking again after too many setbacks and roadblocks that have taken place in the past couple of years.

My name is John Crane and, yes, I am a pirate! Most people call me Jack. I come from a place called Winter Haven, Florida. I am haunted by memories from there. Bad marriages and deaths of people close to me are everpresent in my mind. I avoid that city as much as possible. There have been, thankfully, some good memories from Winter Haven linger in my mind. I still keep in touch with old friends I had while growing up.

I did find some hope, last year, while traveling around in a cargo van making deliveries for delivery apps. During that time, I noticed a correlation of that kind of work with the age of pirates that took place long ago. It's every person for themselves when it comes to working delivery apps. We all want to make the most money! I decided to declare myself a pirate since that's what it felt like.

Unfortunately, the van was a rental and needed to be returned. After I returned it, I rented a moving truck and left Florida for Georgia with the promise of making good money. That promise fell through and I, finally, ended up homeless on the streets. I throughly enjoyed my time in the van. I caught the bug to travel in a van and make a living working delivery apps. In other words, I smelled blood!

It took me a while to, finally, get to a dream destination of mine called Key West in Florida. It's taken a long time to get there with no vehicle. Hitchhiking paid off! My attempts to obtain a vehicle failed. It took too many roadblocks that led me to living in a bar, during its operating hours. When the bar is closed I head to the beach and snag some sleep under a nearby boardwalk.

I obtained a acoustic guitar from another drunk in the bar that gave up on making a career playing music. I began busking, playing the guitar for spare change, since I have had guitar playing skills since my teenage years. I am making enough money to pay for my rum intake, cigarettes, weed, and a bit of food here and there. My busking has attracted a little following of men and women who appreciate my guitar playing.

I'm not looking for fame from music, just making enough money for my drinks, smokes, weed, and food is all I am aiming for. What I really want is to obtain a van to resume my life of being a pirate. I'm already living part of that lifestyle, soaked in rum and living on a beach has been an interesting experience. Sometimes, I'll meet a interesting female, who comes here for a vacation, and have a brief fling. Falling in love is the last thing on my mind!

I've been here three months now. There's been an old van that's for sale across from Louie's Backyard. I've talked with the owner and we've come to an agreed price of fifteen hundred dollars. I've begun setting some of the busking money aside to pay for the van. The owner of The Rum Bar has allowed me to begin playing music there for tips. I know I'll have the rest of the money soon. This Pirate will be back on the road soon!

To be continued..........